Adjustable manhole frame



July 16, 1968 G. D. ZEILE, JR 3,392,640

ADJUSTABLE MANHOLE FRAME Filed April 22. 1966 New Level I 1' I Old LevelINVENTOR GDAVID ZEILE JR.

United States Patent 7 3,392,640 ADJUSTABLE MANHOLE FRAME h George DavidZeile, Jr., 159 Rustic Lake Drive, Medina,0hio 44256 Filed Apr. 22,1966, Ser. No. 544,561

I Claims. (Cl. 94-34) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An adjustable manholeframe includes abutment members extending laterally from its side walland a plurality of adjustment bolts with load bearing lower end portionsare threaded through a separate support engaging abutment members foradjusting the level of the manhole frame.

This invention relates generally to manhole frames utilized for accesspurposes to underground utility lines and the like, and moreparticularly to an adjustable manhole frame which is movable in ayertical direction to accommodate various changes in the grade levelsadjacent a manhole.

Because of the deterioration of road surfaces, it often becomesnecessary to add additional paving material to an existingroad surface.Since the additional paving mate rial may be an inch or more inthickness, an existing manhole frame and cover will be at a lower levelthan the new road surface. The difference in surface levels isdiscomforting to drivers and is remedied by disengaging the manholeframe from its existing foundation and fixing it in a position flushwith the new road surface. This is an expensive and burdensome operationto perform. Therefore, it is desirable to have a manhole frame which isadjustable to accommodate the changes in road levels. With an adjustableframe, the burden of digging out the existing frame is avoided.

Prior adjustable manhole frames have had certain disadvantages. Theirconstruction was complex in that the frames were double-walled orincluded various compartments. This added to the weight of the framesand consequently made them more expensive. Also, there was a corrosionproblem with prior adjustable frames. After being exposed to adverseunderground conditions, the adjustment portion of prior frames wouldbecome corroded if not properly protected with grease or other corrosionpreventive substance. It is the primary object of the present inventionto overcome these and other faults of the prior art.

The present invention comprises a manhole frame including an abutmentportion, a support member whereby an upward force may be applied to theabutment portion, and an adjustment means connected to the supportmember for varying the level of the frame. It is contemplated that thesupport member and adjustment means may be separate from the frame sothat they can be inserted in the device only when adjustment becomesnecessary. Since it is not necessary to associate the adjustment meanswith the frame until such time as the road surface is repaved, theinvention alleviates the corrosion problem encountered with adjustablemanhole frames of the prior art.

In some instances it may neither be necessary nor feasible to use aframe which is adjustable. Accordingly, the present invention isconstructed so that various parts may be deleted and the frame used byitself without the adjustment feature. This preferred arrangement hasobvious advantages over prior adjustable constructions which have beencharacterized by a heavy frame including integral walls forming a numberof bolt compartments which are unnecessary if the frame is intended tobe stationary rather than adjustable. For example, the structure3,392,640 Patented July 16, 1968 ice of this invention is lighter,easier to install and less expensive than prior constructions.

Other objects and advantages and a fuller understanding of the inventionmay be had by referring to the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view in cross-section of the invention;and

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the invention take along the line 2-2 ofFIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURE 1, a manhole 10 isdefined by road base material 12. A bearing ring 14 is situated atop theroad base material 12 and has substantially the same inner diameter asthe manhole 10. The bearing ring 14 may be provided with a plurality ofrecesses 16, which receive the ends of bolts 18. Alternatively, therecesses 16 may be omitted and the bolts 18 may then bear on the fiatupper surface of the bearing ring 14.

Acylindrical manhole frame 20 is positioned over the bearing ring 14.The manhole frame 20 is formed with an inwardly directed lip 24 near itsupper end in order to provide support for a manhole cover 26. As shown,the lip 24 extends around the inner wall of the manhole frame 20. Acylindrical sheath 22 surrounds the manhole frame 20 and bearing ring14. The inner diameter of the sheath 22 is substantially the same as theouter diameters of the bearing ring 14 and manhole frame 20.

One of the principal reasons for utilizing the sheath 22 is to reducethe frictional forces that would arise between the manhole frame 20 andthe surrounding road material 34. If the manhole frame 20 were in directcontact with the road material 34, the frictional forces between the twowould increase the difiiculty of adjusting the manhole frame 20. Asuitable lubricant may be provided between the sheath 22 and manholeframe 2d to further ease adjustment. The sheath 22 also enhances thestability of the structure by preventing lateral movement of the frame20.

In accordance with the invention, the bolts 18 used to adjust themanhole frame 20 to road level are carried by a ring 30 having aplurality of threaded bores 32 which receive the bolts. The ring 30engages the undersides of a plurality of lugs 28 attached to the insidewall of the manhole frame 20. In the illustrated construction, fourinwardly projecting lugs 28 which are spaced apart. are formed integralwith the wall of the frame 20.

.14. Since the bolts 18 are threadably engaged through the ring 30,rotation of the bolts in one direction serves to raise the ring 30. Asthe ring 30 is raised, it bears against the lugs 28 to lift the manholeframe 20 to the desired level.

The adjusted position of the manhole frame 20 is indicated by the dottedlines shown in FIGURE 1. The height to which the frame 20 may be raisedis limited only by the length of the bolts 18. If desired, the manholeframe 20 may be lowered by merely turning bolts 18 outwardly from thebearing ring 14.

As discussed above, it may be desirable to use the manhole frame 20itself in installations where an adjustable frame is neither necessarynor feasible. To this end, it is possible to eliminate the bolts 18, thering 30, the bearing ring 14, and the sheath 22.

Since the adjustment portion of the present invention is detachable, itmay be desirable initially to install only the manhole frame 20, thebearing ring 14 and the surrounding sheath 22. The adjustment assemblyconsisting of the ring 30 and the bolts 18 can be placed in the frame 20at a later time when it becomes necessary to raise the level of theframe. When used in this manner, the 'bolts 3 18 and the ring 30 willnot be exposed to corrosion between the time of installing the frame 20and the time when it is adjusted to a new grade level.

In order that the ring 30 may be easily inserted within the manholeframe 20, the outer diameter of the ring 30- should be less than theinner diameter of the manhole frame lip 24. Also, it is preferable thatthe four lugs 28 be symmetrically positioned, as shown in FIG. 2, tofacilitate placement of the ring 30 beneath the lugs. The ring 30 may beinserted in the manhole frame by placing a portion of the ringunderneath two of the lugs 28 and then lowering the rest of the ringbelow the other two lugs. With the ring 30 in position beneath the fourlugs 28, the bolts 18 may be inserted in the bores 32 and the manholeframe 20 raised to the desired level. After installation of the ring 30and bolts 18, the assembly will remain within the structure to supportthe manhole frame 20 at its adjusted height.

Alternatively, the ring 30 may be provided with a plurality of slotswhich will enable it to pass beneath the lugs 28. These slots arelocated near the outer edge of the ring 30 in positions corresponding tothe positions of the lugs 28 and are adapted to receive the lugs 28. Asthe ring 30 is lowered within the manhole frame 20 and each slot islined up with its corresponding lug 28, the lugs 28 will be received bythe slots and the ring 30 will then be permitted to pass beneath thelugs 28. After the ring 30 has passed beneath the lugs 28, it may berotated so that the slots will not line up with the lugs 28. Then,

the bolts 18 may be inserted in the bores 32 and the ring 20 raised toengage the lugs 28.

Many modifications and variations of the invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art in view of the foregoing detailed disclosure.Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appendedclaims, the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specificallyshown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable structure of the type described comprising incombination:

(a) a frame;

(b) said frame including an abutment portion secured thereto;

(c) a support separate from said frame and engageable with said abutmentportion, and

(d) adjustment means carried by said support for moving said supportagainst said abutment portion in an axial direction relative to saidframe.

2. An adjustable manhole frame construction comprising:

(a) a frame having side wall structure and upper and lower ends;

(b) said frame including abutment structure extending laterally fromsaid side wall structure, said abutment structure being located betweenthe upper and lower ends of said frame;

(c) support structure separate from said frame;

(d) said support structure being disposed between the lower end of saidframe and said abutment structure and engageable with said abutmentstructure;

(e) a plurality of adjustment members carried by and extending throughsaid support structure;

(f) said'adjustment members having load bearing end portions below saidsupport structure engageable against a fixed surface; and,

(g) said adjustment members being movable to raise said supportstructure against said abutment structure and thereby elevate saidframe.

3. The construction as claimed in claim 2 wherein said abutmentstructure extends inwardly of said frame and wherein said supportstructure is disposed within said frame.

4. The construction as claimed in claim 2 wherein said adjustmentmembers are bolts threaded through said support structure.

5. The construction as claimed in claim 2 wherein said frame iscylindrical.

6. The construction as claimed in claim 5 wherein said support structureis a ring.

7. An adjustable manhole frame construction comprising:

(a) a movable frame having a side wall and upper and lower ends;

(b) said frame including spaced projections extending inwardly from saidside wall and disposed between said ends;

(c) a support member within said frame, said support member beingdisposed between said projections and the lower end of said frame andengageable with the undersurfaces of said projections;

(d) a plurality of bolts threaded through said support member;

(e) said bolts having load bearing lower end portions engageable with afixed surface; and,

(f) said bolts being movable through said support member to raise itagainst said projections and elevate said frame.

8. The construction as claimed in claim 7 wherein said frame iscylindrical and said support member is a ring.

9. The construction as claimed in claim 8 wherein said projections arespaced apart.

10. An adjustable structure of the type described comprising incombination:

(a) a cylindrical frame having an inwardly projecting lip near one endthereof for supporting a cover;

(b) said frame including a plurality of projections spaced 90 apartaround the inside of said frame;

(c) a ring separate from said frame disposed within said frame andengageable with said projections, the outer diameter of said ring beingless than the inner diameter of said lip; and,

(d) a plurality of bolts threadedly engaged through said ring andextending axially of said frame for moving said ring against saidprojections in an axial direction relative to said frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,076,386 111/1913 ODay 94341,517,871 12/ 1924- Thompson 94-34 1,877,995 9/1932 Sc'hanley 94342,163,221 6/1939 Slocum 9434 2,930,295 3/1960 Hale 9434 REINALDO P.MACHADO, Primary Examiner.

